Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has emphasised that the Prime Minister's Special Relief Scheme is intended to provide relief to vulnerable citizens and no eligible beneficiary should be deprived of the facility due to their geographical location.

He was chairing a meeting of the National Steering Committee on Fuel Subsidy in Islamabad today.

The meeting reviewed the implementation of the Prime Minister's Special Relief Scheme and considered measures in light of public feedback received during the first 48 hours of its nationwide rollout.

Ishaq Dar directed that alternative arrangements be established for fuel stations in areas with limited or no internet connectivity, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and remote rural areas elsewhere.

Taking into account citizens' feedback, the Prime Minister has approved two measures for motorcycles, three-wheelers and rickshaws.

The requirement to purchase a minimum of five litres in a single transaction has been removed. Beneficiaries will now receive a weekly token of five hundred rupees, which may be redeemed for fuel in any quantity, enabling citizens purchasing smaller quantities to benefit from the scheme.

Secondly, the eligibility age limit has been extended from 15 years to 20 years for two-wheelers and three-wheelers.

For four-wheelers up to 800cc, there is no change in the existing arrangement, which is one 10-litre token every 10 days, equivalent to three tokens per month.

The full value of the five-hundred-rupee token will be passed on to the consumer, and fuel stations shall not apply any deduction or service charge.

The Committee also reviewed progress on registration, token redemption and settlement of payments to fuel stations.

Ishaq Dar directed the State Bank of Pakistan to provide payment-status reports twice daily, at 11:00 AM and 7:00 PM, ensuring that any rejected transaction is identified along with the specific reason and rectified without delay.